In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From General history of Macon County, Missouri (1910), History of Randolph and Macon counties, Missouri (1884)
THEOPHILUS JONES
(Farmer and Stock-raiser).
In about the year 1820, Thomas Jones, a young man from Wales, came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. He shortly after married Miss Eleanor Williams, also a native of Wales, and to them was born February 21, 1844, Theophilus Jones, the gentleman a rough outline of whose life is here given. He was well educated, partly at the public schools and partly at the Lewisburg University. When his studies Avere completed, Mr. Jones took a position as clerk in a dry goods house in Baltimore. In 1867 he came west and was for two years in partnership with his brother, a merchant at Belpre, Washington county. In 1869 he came to Macon county. Mo., and for a year or so was engaged in the same line of business at Vienna. He then became a farmer, and has since devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He has a farm of 200 acres, with 160 fenced and 140 in meadow, pasture and cultivation. His surroundings indicate his prosperity and thrift. Mr. Jones is identified Avith the Republicans and was their candidate for representative at the last general election. In 1878 Mr. J. was elected justice of the peace, and still holds that ofsce. He is a man of fine business qualifications and possesses the entire esteem and confidence of the community. January 1, 1876, Mr. J. married Miss Edna E., daughter of Orson Snow, who is elsewhere spoken of in these pages. Mrs. Jones was born in Kalamazoo county, Mich., and came to Missouri with her parents at the age of 14. Mr. and Mrs. J. have two children, Owen W. and Edith.
As printed in History of Randolph and Macon counties, Missouri (1884). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
THEOPHILUS JONES.
Combining in his make-up the sturdy characteristics of the "Welsh people and the enterprise and all-daring determination of America, and in his experience a knowledge of the customs, habits and methods of thought, together with the industrial pursuits and political aspirations of the people in different parts of the country, and in his own special training the acquisitions gained in several pursuits of varied character, lheophilus Jones came to his present location and occupation well prepared for its exactions and capable of holding his own in any condition or under any requirements. In his prosperous and productive career he has shown that his training was not wasted on him, and the seeds of it fell on fruitful ground.
Mr. Jones is a native of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, a region filled with strenuous industrial life and distinguished for the enterprise and progressiveness of its people. He was born there on February 21, 1844, and there he grew to manhood and secured his education, attending the district schools and the university at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He is a son of Thomas and Elenor (Williams) Jones, natives of Wales, the former born and reared in the southern part of that country and the latter in the northern part. They came to Missouri in 1870, and here they passed the remainder of their days. They had a family of seven children. Three of them are living: Edward I., Anna, the wife of E. G. Snow, of Atlanta, and Theophilus. The mother died on July 26, 1885, and the father on January 24, 1890.
After leaving school he was engaged in the mercantile business for a few years, finally settled at Vienna, in Macon county, Missouri, and has been in the farming and stock-raising business ever since. In this dual pursuit in the agricultural interests of the county, he has ever since expended his efforts and of it he has made a very gratifying success. He is now the owner of about 200 acres of good land, all of which is under advanced cultivation, except what is devoted to grazing his stock, and all yielding abundant returns for the labor and intelligence bestowed upon it.
The affairs of his township and county have greatly interested Mr. Jones and he has given them close and careful attention. The welfare of the region around him and that of the people who inhabit it are prime considerations with him and at all times command his most earnest and energetic attention. For this reason he has not allied himself with any political party specifically, but has kept himself free to support the policies and candidates in whose success he has believed the best interests of the public were vitally involved. But this iudeiendence has not stayed his hand with reference to public affairs or lessened his energy in seeking to secure what he has considered the best results in every election. He has been a justice of the peace since 1878 and a member of the school board more than thirty years. He was married in January, 1876, to Miss Edna E. Snow, a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan. They became the parents of three children, Owen W., Edith E. and Paul L., all of whom are living. Their mother died on August 12, 1908.
As printed in General history of Macon County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Orson Snow (b. 1827)
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.